Rahystrada wins Colonial Turf Cup at Colonial Downs

After seeing the way Rahystrada had run in the spring against stiff competition, trainer Byron Hughes had a feeling good fortune would again find his veteran soon enough.

Rahystrada came into Saturday's $500,000 Turf Cup, which was open to horses 3 years old for the first time, as the most seasoned competitor in the eight-horse field at Colonial Downs. At 7 years old, he's at an age when many thorobreds are closer to the retirement pasture than they are to a bed of victory roses.

Hughes' face that Rahystrada could get the job done was rewarded with a victory in the 1 3/16-mile Turf Cup. Rahystrada, a Kentucky-bred gelding, who is ridden by jockey Sheldon Russell, topped race-favorite Smart Bid by 1 1/2 lengths.

"He's been knocking on the door," said Hughes, whose horse went off as the second-favorite in the race at 7-2 odds. "He always puts a good effort out … You just have to have the right trip and whoever is feeling the best that day. Today was our day."

Rahystrada won for the 11th time in 32 starts. All of his wins have come on turf, including his last victory before Saturday, which was July 17, 2010, in the Grade III Arlington Handicap at Arlington Park near Chicago.

In March, he finished second by a neck to Doubles Partner in the Grade III Tampa Bay Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs in Florida, and then, in May, Rahystrada came in fourth in the Grade I Woodford Reserve Turf Classic Stakes at Churchill Downs in Kentucky.

Russell, who said he never laid eyes on Rahystrada before Saturday, started off from the far-inside post position in Saturday's Turf Cup. Russell kept Rahystrada near the rail for most of the race.

After a fast start, Guys Reward grabbed the lead for the first three-quarters of a mile, but he fadded as the horses neared the final stretch. Smart Bid, a 5-year-old who went off as the 8-5 favorite, and who is trained by 2011 Kentucky Derby winner trainer Graham Motion, stayed in second for the entire race.

"(Smart Bid) was a little close to the pace, but the pace was too slow," Smart Bid jockey Edgar Prado said. "He was pretty much comfortable pricking his ears. When I pressed the pedal he was fine today. Unfortuantely, he couldn't catch (Rahystrada)."

When Smart Bid drifted out twoard the middle of the track at the top of the final stretch, Russell steered Rahystrada hard against the rail and passed Smart Bid.

Russell kept Rahystrada in the lead the rest of the way, holding off Smart Bid and third-place finisher Dark Cove.

Hughes said Russell got the ride atop Rahystrada through some of owner Robert Courtney's connections. Courtney talked to fellow trainer Michael Matz, who had used Russell in the past. Matz, who trained late 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro, referred to Russell as a "top-notch" jockey and recommended him to Courtney.

In addition to the Turf Cup win, Russell also won three of the first four races on Saturday's 11-race card at Colonial Downs, which drew 2,751 fans. He's the leading jockey at Colonial Downs this summer.

"We were just really lucky today that (Smart Bid) sort of popped off the rail … and I was able to duck my horse down on the rail," said Russell, who called the Turf Cup win the biggest of his career. "When I did that, he just opened up. He just loved running inside and he just ran an excellent race."